Adjustable chair for children with cerebral palsy

ABSTRACT

A chair especially useful for children with cerebral palsy has a super structure portion that can be totally uncoupled by way of two support posts from a substructure portion constituted by a wheeled base. A back rest and seat can be independently lengthened or shortened and tilted together as a seat-back rest unit to meet changing requirements. The seat is equipped with a pair of movable arm rests. The primary components of the chair are capable of multiple independent or concurrent movements so that the chair configuration can be adjusted to accommodate the growth, medical or other needs of a child.

United States Patent 1191 Mulholland 1 Sept. 25, 1973 ADJUSTABLE CHAIRFOR CHILDREN 3,632,162 1/1972 Trethway 297/010. 4 WITH CEREBRAL PALSY561,908 H1896 Munson 297/390 X 875,903 l/l908 Flemming 297/390 Inventor:Larry Mulholland, 1343 Camden 3,497,259 2/1970 Sherfey 297/391 Ln.,Ventura, Calif. 93003 [22] Filed: Man I 1972 Primary Examiner-James T.McCall Attorney-Pastonza & Kelly [21] Appl. No.: 230,607

[57] ABSTRACT 52 C u 297/3 4 297 4 297 391 A chair especially useful forchildren with cerebral 297 4 1 palsy has a superstructure portion thatcan be totally 51 1111.01. A471: 15/00, A47 7/36 uncoupled y y of two ppPosts from a [58] Field 01 Search 297/390, 384, 391, Structure Portionconstituted y a wheeled base- 53. 353, 333 A back rest and seat can beindependently lengthened or shortened and tilted together as a seat-backrest unit [56] References Cited to meet changing requirements. The seatis equipped UNITED STATES PATENTS with a pair of movable arm rests.2,591,911 4/1952 Block 297/384 The primary components of the chair arecapable of 1,357,826 1 H1920 haw 297/383 X multiple independent orconcurrent movements so that Paater0.... ..-t. X the chair configurationcan be adjusted to 2,136,852 11/1938 Knauthj 297/390 X accommodate thegrowth, medical or other needs of a 1,721,221 7/1929 Jauregui 297/411 Xchild 930,074 8/1909 Jaspersen 297/390 2,694,437 11/1954 Glaser 297/38413 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE CHAIR FOR CHILDREN WITH CEREBRALPALSY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention generally relates tomedical or invalid chairs and more specifically to chairs suitable foraccommodating children with cerebral palsy.

Ordinary or conventional chairs are not adequate to assist in satisfyingthe special needs of children with cerebral palsy. For example, when theseat of an ordinary chair extends to the childs calves and the arm restsare positioned at chest level then one solution is to prop up the childon pillows. Inasmuch as the pillows do not properly support the childhis resulting unnatural posture becomes detrimental to normaldevelopment.

In order to alleviate or break up an extensor pattern and furnish agravity assist to weak neck muscles it may be required, for example, tocause the seat and back to intersect at an angle of 75 while tilting theback at an angle of 30. Conventional chairs are of no assistance and ifan expensive custom chair of fixed geometry is provided then it isuseful but only until it becomes more advantageous to change the chairconfiguration.

Hypotonic children with poor neck and trunk muscle control may only beable to sit up and hold their heads erect for short periods of time.Generally the children are forced to spend much of their time lying onthe floor which is good for development of head control but detrimentalto their respiratory systems etc. When seated in ordinary chairs theirheads tend to fall over to one side or pitch forward beyond range oftheir limited control and this tends to cause their bodies to slump intoa scoliotic curve which may become permanent.

Adjustable and specially equipped chairs have been proposed forresolving some of these problems. For example, an invalid chair isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,215,469 to Wamsley and a folding wheelchair is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,927,631 to Andersson et al.

This invention is characterized by significant departures overconventional and known adjustable chairs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated this invention comprehends achair for children with cerebral palsy that. is versatile, lightweightand multi-directionally adjustable so as to be gradually expanded toaccommodate the growth of a particular child or modified to meetrequirements of different children. I

In its broader aspects the adjustable chair includes a wheeled base anda horizontally extending cross rod positioned above the base. A pair oflaterally spaced mounting units are coupled to opposing end portions ofthe rod and a pair of upstanding support posts are coupled at theirbottom portions to the base and are removably connected to their upperportions to corresponding mounting units. A seat is coupled to themounting units and a back rest is also coupled to the mounting units.

A seat tilting means is provided for tilting the seat independentlyabout the cross rod in order to change the angle between the seat andback rest. A seat depth adjustment means is arranged for selectivelyrepositioning the seat back and forth relative to the cross rod.

A seat-back rest tilting means is provided in order to tilt the seat andback rest as a unit about the cross rod.

A back rest height adjustment means is arranged for selectively changingthe back rest height.

The seat tilting means, seat depth adjustment means, seat-back resttilting means and back rest height adjustment means are independentlyoperable in order to accommodate the needs of a child. The superstructure portion of the chair can be lifted out of the wheeled base forstorage or portability purposes or alternatively for use, aftermodifications, as an automobile infant seat.

The back rest includes a generally U-shaped frame- 3 work with a pair ofparallel side members and the back rest height adjustment means isfurther constructed to cause releasable engagement of the back rest sidemembers enabling the back rest to be length adjusted.

A U-shaped neck pad is preferably coupled to the back rest for cradlingthe neck of a child. A pair of trunk control pads is coupled to the backrest and the pads project downwardly from positions adjacent opposingsides of the neck pad in order to aid in preventing a child frompitching forward in the seat.

The seat is preferably constructed from a generally U-shaped frameworkwith a pair of parallel side beams linked together by way of a frontalcross beam. The seat adjustment means is constructed to cause releasableengagement of the side beams. A pair of arm rests removably coupled tothe seat are constructed for being mutually laterally displaced andvertically adjusted.

An adduction post is preferably connected to the frontal cross beam toaid in preventing a child from crossing his legs. A leg rest is movablycoupled to the seat and arranged for angular displacement above thefrontal cross beam.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS constructed in accordance with thisinvention, showing a service tray connected to the chair and a pair oftrunk control pads coupled to the chair back rest; and,

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a slightly modifled adjustablechair showing more details of components constituting the rear portionof the chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to both FIG.1 and FllG. 2 an adjustable chair 10, especially useful for childrenwith cerebral palsy, includes a substructure or wheeled base 11. Base 11has a pair of side members 12 and 13 interlinked by a transverselyoriented front member 14 and a transversely oriented rear member 15. Themembers 12, 13, 14 and 15 are coupled together to generally constitute arigid rectangular framework.

A pair of erect links 16 and 17 connected to the rear portions of sidemembers 12 and 13 hold rear member 15 raised above the height of frontmember 14. The

substructure framework is supported on four wheels including a pair offront wheels 18 and 19 and a pair of rear wheels 20 and 21. A pair ofbrake elements or bars 22 is rigidly connected to rotatable rear member15 so that a lever 23, that can be manually operated either by foot orby hand, may be used to cause the brake elements 22 to engage theiradjacent wheels and 21.

A pair of upstanding support posts 24 and 25 are formed in their lowersegments with a plurality of diagonally aligned height adjustmentapertures 26 and 27 respectively. A pair of locking blocks 28 and 29 areslidably mounted on base side members 12 and 13 respectively. Thelocking blocks 28 and 29 are formed with transverse slots which whenregistered with selected apertures 26 and 27 and fixed in desired setpositions by laterally aligned locking pins 30 and 31, serve to fix thesupport posts 24 and 25 at desired heights.

The upper segments of support posts 24 and 25 are removably connected toa pair of mounting units 32 and 33 that are coupled to opposing ends ofa horizontally extending cross rod 34 positioned above base 11.

A back rest 35 is coupled to the mounting units 32 and 33. A seat 36 isalso coupled to the mounting units 32 and 33. All of the weight of thesuperstructure portion of chair 10 is transmitted to the substructure orbase 11 soley through the two support posts 24 and 25. When locking pins30 and 31 are removed the chair superstructure including posts 24 and 25can be lifted away from base 11 for facilitating storage or portabilityrequirements. Alternatively, because of the removable couplings (notshown) between the upper portions of posts 24 and 25 and mounting units32 and 33, the chair superstructure without posts 24 and 25 can belifted away from the base 11.

With the addition of a simple adapter the superstructure portion ofchair 10 can be used as an infant seat and installed in an automobile orother vehicle.

Each of the mounting units 32 and 33 has a group of three blocksjournalled or threadably coupled to the opposing end portions of crossrod 34. The counterpart blocks of each group are identical and thereforea description of one group will suffice for a full understanding of bothgroups. Outermost blocks 40 are rotatably mounted by way of smooth boresto cross rod 34 and are formed with generally vertical slots 41. Blocks40 are removably connected to the upper segments of the support posts 24and 25 by way of a pair of depending pegs (not shown) that are insertedinto sockets or cavities formed in the upper ends of support posts 24and 25. In addition locking pins similar to locking pins 30 and 31 maybe employed. Middle blocks 42 have split sections and slots that aid inmounting the back rest 35. The middle blocks 42 are threadably engagedwith intermediate threaded segments of rod 34 for a purpose to bedescribed. The innermost blocks 43, in a manner similar to outer blocks40, are rotatably connected by way of smooth bores to cross rod 34 andare formed with split sections and generally horizontally aligned slotsto aid in mounting portions of seat 36.

A.seat-back rest tilting means is provided for tilting seat 36 and backrest 35 as a rigid unit about cross rod 34. The seat-back rest tiltingmeans includes a pair of outer tightening knobs 44 that are threadablyengaged with outer threaded segments of cross rod 34. By loosening knobs44 the seat 36 and back rest 35 as a unit may be swung to any desiredangular position over a broad range of possibilities.

A seat tilting means is provided for tilting just the seat independentlyabout the cross rod 34 in order to change the angle between seat 36 andback rest 35. The seat tilting means is constituted in part by a pair ofinner tightening knobs which when loosened permit the seat 36 to beswung independently in order to increase or decrease the angle betweenseat 36 and stationary back rest 35.

The adjacent faces or sides of blocks 40, 42 and 43 are serrated toconstitute locking teeth that can be selectively unlocked when the knobs44 and 45 are loosened and then interfitted and relocked when the knobsare tightened. Thus if the knobs 44 and 45 are loosened simultaneously aperson may adjust the relative angle between seat 36 and back rest 35and also adjust the relative position of the seat 36 and back rest 35 asa unit. Thereafter the knobs 44 and 45 may be locked again to fix seat36 and back rest 35 in a desired set position.

The back rest 35 is generally a U-shaped framework 46 having a pair ofparallel side members 47 and 48 whose bottom segments are adjustablyfitted into middle blocks 42. When a back rest height adjustment means,in the form of tightening nuts 88, is loosened then binding pressure bythe split sections of blocks 42 is relaxed to thereby enable the backrest 45 to become length or height adjusted. A cross member 49 is bentslightly backwardly for use as a handle in maneuvering the chain 10 fromplace to place. An intermediate cross bar 50 is located beneath crossmember 49. Back support fabric 51 is held between side members 47 and 48and back support fabric 52, oriented cross wise relative to fabric 51,is held between cross rod 34 and intermediate cross bar 50.

A horseshoe or U-shaped neck pad 53 as best shown in FIG. 2 is movablein both back and forth directions and lateral directions on a mountingcarriage 54. Neck pad 53 is fully padded and is dimensioned to extendfrom just above the shoulder ofa child to about the ear lobes of achild. A pair of side braces 55 are securely attached to the neck pad 53and to a pair of rearwardly extending rods 56 which pass throughopenings in a pair of movable joints 57 slidably coupled to theintermediate cross bar 50.

A slightly different embodiment of the neck pad 53 is shown in FIG. 1where the carriage 54 has a pair of openings that mount trunk controlpads 58 and 59 by way of rearwardly extending rods 60 and 61. The trunkcontrol pads 58 and 59 project generally downwardly from positionsadjacent opposing sides of neck pad 53 to prevent a child from pitchingforwardly. The trunk control pads 58 and 59 are essentially cylindricaland positioned laterally of the strnolido-mastoid muscles and contactthe childs chest below the clavicales. The trunk control pads 58 and 59restrict only forward motion of the childs body and do not hinder heador arm movement. The pads 58 and 59 are so constructed that whenproperly positioned a child is unable to squirm free of the support orbecome confined in an abnormal position.

The neck pad 53 is an effective structure for breaking up strongextensor patterns. The reason for this is that in order for a child todevelop thrust with his neck he must coordinate neck extensors andflexsors. A reflex dominated child is unable to do this which apparentlybreaks up the signal allowing the muscles to relax.

The seat 36 is constructed from a U-shaped framework having a pair ofparallel side beams 66 and 67 that are slidably connected within theinnermost split blocks 43 of mounting units 32 and 33. When a seat depthadjustment means, formed in part by tightening nuts 87, is loosened thenbinding pressure by the split sections of blocks 43 is relaxed tothereby enable the seat 36 to become depth or length adjusted. Afrontalcross beam 68 interconnects side beams 66 and 67. Seat support fabric 69is held taut between side beams 66 and 67. An adduction post 70 isrotatably connected to the frontal cross beam 68 to aid in preventing achild from crossing his legs which is often detrimental to a child. Theadduction post 70 may be locked in an upright position for use or swungdownwardly out of the way beneath seat 36 if it is not necessary.

A pair of movable arm rests 71 and 72 with depending hip supports arecoupled to opposing sides of seat 36. Frontal holding blocks 73 slidablyconnected to cross beam 68 mount front portions of arm rests 71 and 72.Similarly, rear holding blocks 74 are slidably connected to cross rod 34and mount rear portions of arm rest 72 and 72. The arm rest 71 and 72may be moved inwardly towards one another or away from one another andmay also be adjusted vertically to accommodate a child. The arm rests 71and 72 may be totally removed from holding block 73 and 74.

Pivotally connected to seat 36 is a leg rest 78 which includes a pair ofside rods 78a and 78b pivotally coupled to cross beam 68 by way ofconventional joints. A pair of tightening knobs 79 may be used to fixthe angular displacement between leg rest 78 and seat 36. A retractablefoot rest 80 is movably coupled to leg rest 78 and may be adjusted byway of movable stops 8]. attached to the side rods of leg rest 78.

Referring to FIG. 1 an eating tray 84 or service tray or desk top or thelike has a pair of depending stems S5 and 86 that fit into slots 41 ofthe mouting units 32 and 33. A seat adjustment means. is provided toselectively reposition the seat 36 back and forth relative to cross rod34.

OPERATION Keeping the above construction in mind it can be understoodhow many of the previously described disadvantages of conventionalchairs structured for children with cerebral palsy are overcome orsubstantially eliminated by the present invention.

The superstructure of chair including back rest 35 and seat 36 isassembled on base 11 by way ofjust two structural members i.e.; supportposts 24 and 25. The height of seat 36 above the wheeled base 11 isadjusted by positioning the locking pins and 31 in selected heightadjustment apertures 26 and 27.

The inclination of seat 36 relative to the back rest is adjusted by theseat tilting means by way of manipulating the inner tightening knobs 45.The depth of seat 36 is adjusted by manipulating the tightening elements87 of the seat depth adjustment means.

The precise position of the seat 36 and back rest 35 as a unit is set bymanipulating the knobs 44 of the seatback rest tilting means.

The arm rests 71 and 72 are correctly positioned by urging them inwardlyor outwardly and either raising or lowering them.

The chair 10 can be virtually collapsed and folded down to occupy arelatively small space for shipping and storage purposes.

Various straps and belts and harnesses may be used in connection withthe chair 10 to further stabilize the position and handling of a childwith cerebral palsy.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the present invention hasprovided an adjustable chair for children with cerebral palsy in whichall of the various advantages are fully realized.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable chair for children with cerebral palsy, the chaircomprising:

a. a base;

b. a horizontally extending cross rod positioned above the base;

c. a pair of laterally spaced mounting units each comprising a group ofthree blocks journalled to opposite end portions of the rod forindependent rotation about the rod;

d. a pair of upstanding support posts coupled at their bottom portionsto the base and removably connected at their upper portions tocorresponding outer blocks in the mounting units;

e. a seat including parallel side beams slidably connected to innerblocks in the mounting units;

f. a back rest having parallel side members extending downwardly andslidably connecting to intermediate blocks in the mounting units;

g. seat tilting means cooperating with the inner blocks to lock theblock in an adjusted, rotatable position relative to the intermediateblocks for tilt ing the seat independently about the cross rod to changethe angle between the seat and back rest;

h. seat depth adjustment means cooperating with said inner blocks forselectively repositioning the parallel side beams for the seat back andforth relative to the cross rod;

. a seat-back rest tilting means cooperating with the outer blocks tolock and release the intermediate and inner blocks in a manner fortilting the seat and back rest as a unit about the cross rod; and,

j. back rest height adjustment means for selectively locking theslidable portions of the parallel side members in the intermediateblocks for changing the back rest height,

wherein, the seat tilting means, seat-back rest tilting means, seatdepth adjustment means and back rest height adjustment means areindependently operable in order to accommodate the needs of a child.

2. The structure according to claim 1, including:

a U-shaped neck pad coupled to the back rest for cradling the neck of achild.

3. The structure according to claim 2, including:

a pair of trunk control pads coupled to the back rest and projectingdownwardly from positions adjacent opposing sides of the neck pad to aidin preventing a child from pitching forward. t

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein;

the seat includes a generally U-shaped framework with a pair of parallelside beams linked by a frontal cross beam, and,

the seat adjustment means in constructed to cause releasable engagementof the side beams.

5. The structure according to claim 4, including:

a pair of arm rests removably coupled to the seat and constructed to bemutually laterally displaced and vertically adjusted.

6. The structure according to claim 5, including:

front holding blocks slidably connected to the frontal cross beam andforward portions of the arm rests, and,

rear holding blocks slidably connected to the cross rod and rearwardportions of the arm rests.

7. The structure according to claim 4, including:

an adduction post connected to the frontal cross beam to aid inpreventing the child from crossing his legs.

8. The structure according to claim 4, including:

a leg rest movably coupled to the seat and arranged for angulardisplacement about the frontal cross beam, and,

a foot rest movably coupled to the leg rest.

9. The structure according to claim 7, wherein;

the leg rest includes a pair of side rods pivotally coupled to thefrontal cross beam.

10. The structure according to claim 1, wherein;

the base includes a rectangular frame supported on a plurality ofwheels. 11. The structure according to claim 10, including:

locking blocks mounted to the rectangular frame and detachably coupledto corresponding support engagement with corresponding mounting units.

1. An adjustable chair for children with cerebral palsy, the chaircomprising: a. a base; b. a horizontally extending cross rod positionedabove the base; c. a pair of laterally spaced mounting units eachcomprising a group of three blocks journalled to opposite end portionsof the rod for independent rotation about the rod; d. a pair ofupstanding support posts coupled at their bottom portions to the baseand removably connected at their upper portions to corresponding outerblocks in the mounting units; e. a seat including parallel side beamsslidably connected to inner blocks in the mounting units; f. a back resthaving parallel side members extending downwardly and slidablyconnecting to intermediate blocks in the mounting units; g. seat tiltingmeans cooperating with the inner blocks to lock the block in anadjusted, rotatable position relative to the intermediate blocks fortilting the seat independently about the cross rod to change the anglebetween the seat and back rest; h. seat depth adjustment meanscooperating with said inner blocks for selectively repositioning theparallel side beams for the seat back and forth relative to the crossrod; i. a seat-back rest tilting means cooperating with the outer blocksto lock and release the intermediate and inner blocks in a manner fortilting the seat and back rest as a unit about the cross rod; and, j.back rest height adjustment means for selectively locking the slidableportions of the parallel side members in the intermediate blocks forchanging the back rest height, wherein, the seat tilting means,seat-back rest tilting means, seat depth adjustment means and bacK restheight adjustment means are independently operable in order toaccommodate the needs of a child.
 2. The structure according to claim 1,including: a U-shaped neck pad coupled to the back rest for cradling theneck of a child.
 3. The structure according to claim 2, including: apair of trunk control pads coupled to the back rest and projectingdownwardly from positions adjacent opposing sides of the neck pad to aidin preventing a child from pitching forward.
 4. The structure accordingto claim 1, wherein; the seat includes a generally U-shaped frameworkwith a pair of parallel side beams linked by a frontal cross beam, and,the seat adjustment means in constructed to cause releasable engagementof the side beams.
 5. The structure according to claim 4, including: apair of arm rests removably coupled to the seat and constructed to bemutually laterally displaced and vertically adjusted.
 6. The structureaccording to claim 5, including: front holding blocks slidably connectedto the frontal cross beam and forward portions of the arm rests, and,rear holding blocks slidably connected to the cross rod and rearwardportions of the arm rests.
 7. The structure according to claim 4,including: an adduction post connected to the frontal cross beam to aidin preventing the child from crossing his legs.
 8. The structureaccording to claim 4, including: a leg rest movably coupled to the seatand arranged for angular displacement about the frontal cross beam, and,a foot rest movably coupled to the leg rest.
 9. The structure accordingto claim 7, wherein; the leg rest includes a pair of side rods pivotallycoupled to the frontal cross beam.
 10. The structure according to claim1, wherein; the base includes a rectangular frame supported on aplurality of wheels.
 11. The structure according to claim 10, including:locking blocks mounted to the rectangular frame and detachably coupledto corresponding support posts, height adjustment apertures formed inlower segments of the support posts, and, locking pins for selectiveplacement in corresponding adjustment apertures and locking blocks toaid in varying the seat distance above the base.
 12. The structureaccording to claim 11, including: a manually operable brake positionedfor engagement with at least one of the wheels.
 13. The structureaccording to claim 1, including: a tray having a pair of dependingstems, generally vertical slots in the mounting units for receiving thetray stems, and, movable stop lugs attached to the stems for makingengagement with corresponding mounting units.